SPRAY TANSelf-tanning: A button activates nine jets that spray self-tanning mist over the body and face with surprising force (consider yourself warned: Close your eyes). The spraying ceases six seconds later, and its caramel glow lasts for a full week (at a third of the cost of most sunless-tanning treatments). $20.

Back in high school, an authentic tan required two things: time and sun. These days, we want none of the latter and can't spare the former, so we booked an Express airbrushing treatment with this bicoastal pro. We started to wonder about the "express" part, however, when Pradas began meticulously dabbing at our hands, the crooks of our arms, and even our knuckles. Then she told us the formula would set within three hours, meaning we could take a shower that afternoon without smudging our skin's soft caramel sheen. These days, that's just the kind of quickie we're after.

Anna Stankiewicz

Bronzing, $8833 E. 61st St.212-935-6261

So many friends had raved about Stankiewicz that by the time we showed up for our appointment, it was as if we already knew her. Evidently, the feeling wasn't mutual: She kicked off our session with a thorough consultation, asking us detailed questions about our tanning preferences and history. Then she got to work misting us inch by meticulous inch, paying special attention to tricky spots like our ankles, feet, and fingers (at one point, she even resprayed our left inner wrist after deciding it was a touch lighter than our right one). By the next morning, we had an impeccable tan—and a trusted friend.

The walls at this popular tanning spot are painted a migraine-provoking shade of orange. But we quickly warmed up to the place when our technician wisely recommended a "touch of color" for our superfair skin. We nodded enthusiastically, and she began airbrushing us with an organic solution. We were thrilled with our pretty glow but wished it had lasted longer than three days.

Anna Stankiewicz

Spray Tan, $8833 E. 61st St.212-935-6261

Getting a spray tan from Stankiewicz is a bit like warming up for ballet class: She tells you where to stand, what positions to hold your arms and legs in, how to turn out, and even when to breathe. Stankiewicz's perfectionism can border on obsession (she paused not once but twice to check the color on our wrist), but her handiwork is flawless—no weird marks, orange cuticles, funky lines, or giveaway patches. We left with a gorgeous honey hue that raised the bar for every future spray tan.

Tara Ortiz

Spray tan, $68112 E. 23rd St.212-674-2424

The place: A full-service, eco-friendly spa with a rustic,
recycled-wood interior. The technique: Ortiz sprayed us with a nonsticky organic formula, letting each section dry before moving on to the next. The extras: You can add fragrance to your spray tan for no additional charge. (We chose a mildly sweet almond.) Bottom line: The medium shade was deep enough to be noticeable but not so intense that it looked fake. We did end up with a few splotches on the sides of our hands that were a dead, dark giveaway.

So much about the Air Bronze treatment was alarming, not the least of which was standing utterly naked while an aesthetician aimed an airbrush inches from our body for 20 excruciating minutes. Another is what our body looked like immediately afterward. The self-tanner, tinted with something that resembled walnut furniture stain, turned every tiny, previously imperceptible hair a dark, disturbing brown. As we looked at all that stained hair, we thought of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and felt an uneasy kinship with Robin Williams. But the stain rinsed off the next day in the shower and in its place we found bronzed skin—with a few minor streaks.

Zofia Dragan

Self-tanning, $125160 Columbus Ave.212-988-7816

Self-tanner scares people, and for good reason: One false move, and you've got a streak like a lightning bolt flashing from ankle to thigh. This friendly spa, tucked in the Reebok Sports Club, has mastered a natural-looking fake tan. Aesthetician Dragan scrubbed the body with Sothys Soft Peeling Exfoliant before evenly smoothing on Sothys Self-Tanner. A golden hue appeared after three hours and continued to deepen until the next day. Leg waxing was recommended beforehand, and loose-fitting clothing after. Modest souls take note: Including drying time, we're talking 90 minutes of nudity (except for a paper thong). Be brave.

SPRAY TAN
What Portofino lacks in frills (this outpost of the bare-bones chain is bathed in unearthly fluorescent lights), it makes up for in efficiency: Sessions take only 15 minutes. Using long, sweeping strokes, technicians guide visitors through simple positions, resulting in golden hues that stay for a week without a streak in sight.

Sculpt & Glow

Megan Prentiss

House calls by appointment, $120 and up646-820-4569

A friend in Miami tipped us off that her favorite spray-tanning service had expanded to Manhattan, so we decided to check it out. Prentiss said that she had a background in sculpture, and we fought away images of faux chiseled abs. Good thing we didn't waste too much time worrying: Our color was even and soft, and we looked as if we'd just stepped off the plane from South Beach.